On Tuesday, September 4, 2012, a 7-woman, 5-man Taney County jury returned guilty verdicts against Stewart Ralph Hopkins (d.o.b. 4-03-1965) of Stockton, Missouri, for the crimes of murder in the first degree and armed criminal action. The trial began on Monday, August 27th and continued until closing arguments ended early Tuesday afternoon, September 4th. The jury deliberated for over five (5) hours before arriving at the guilty verdicts on the charges filed by the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office, stemming from the murder of Stacy Birmingham back in October of 2010.

Murder in the first degree carries the sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Armed criminal action carries no maximum penalty. Taney County Circuit Court Judge Mark Orr scheduled sentencing for November 15, 2012.